St. Joseph Parish Visitation Report

Bishop Rozanski visited our parish and did a review. We wanted to share his report with you. The first half of the report will be in the bulletin [3/41] with his commendations. His recommendations will be in next week’s bulletin. Introduction St. Joseph Parish was founded In 1849 in downtown Pittsfield, the first Catholic Church in Berkshire County. As the number of Catholic immigrants increased, the parish grew and larger facilities were needed. In 1864, for $10,000, the parish purchased a piece of the historic Maplewood property that has been a military cantonment facility during the Revolutionary Wary. Construction started on the present church in 1864 and was completed in late 1866, with the first Mass celebrated Christmas day that year. St. Joseph is the largest church in Berkshire County and is known as the Mother Church of the Berkshires. Today it proudly claims parishioners from a number of area churches. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, All Souls, Holy Family, Notre Dame, St. Francis Xavier, St. Mary Morning Star and St. Theresa’s. Given the energy and activity I observed, I make the following commendations and recommendations to guide and support the pastor and staff of St. Joseph’s Parish in your efforts to work together to extend the presence and power of God’s love in Pittsfield. I recognize the good work done here and invite you to reflect with me as I review with you my observations and learning’s from this recent pastoral visit. Commendations Finance Committee—I commend the finance committee for their regular meetings and reports, and for their concern about the parish finances. Parish Council—I commend the Parish council for their support and cooperation with the many activities of the parish, and for their election process which continually brings new people onto the council. Pastoral Ministry—I commend Patricia Momnie for her care and concern for the homebound of the Parish, for working with volunteers to assure that all 105 of the Parish homebound are visited on a regular basis, and for all the effort she puts into coordinating the city wide RCIA program. Faith Information—I commend the Parish for collaborating in ministry with St. Mark’s for the Confirmation Program this year, and for initiating conversations with the other two Parishes about combining their programs into one, and having a well organized Faith Formation Program. Child and Youth Protection—I commend the Parish for the organized and committed work of John, Lou Ann, and Patricia, and the support of Msgr. Shershanovich. I commend the Parish for having security measures in place as the students use different buildings and rooms for their Faith Formation activities. Maintenance and Cemetery Staff— I commend Msgr. Shershanovich and the staff of the cemetery for taking the turn around that has taken place in the cemetery in the last few years. I commend Jack Laviolette, Chairman and Jay Meehan, Superintendent on the positive changes seen in the last two years. Parish Staff— I commend Michele Madden for her dedication as secretary. Her professionalism and welcome spirit makes ones first connection with the Parish a positive experience. I commend her willingness to act in whatever capacity needed. I commend Sharon McClusky for the beautiful bulletin she puts together every week. I commend the Parish community for the amazing number of activities they offer to enrich the lives of the parishioners and the people of Pittsfield. I commend the staff and parishioners for the work they have done in incorporating the communities of Notre Dame, Mt. Carmel, All Souls, St. Theresa’s, St. Mary’s, St. Francis, and Holy Family into one Parish. Pastor—I commend Msgr. Shershanovich for his leadership of the Parish over the past 23 years, and for his service to the wider Berkshire County community, for his pastoral concerns for the members of the Parish. I commend him for his encouragement of the food pantry and Cathedral of the Beloved, his outreach to the elderly and the struggling of the Pittsfield Community, for his leadership during the process of merging parishes in Pittsfield, particularly for his welcome to the people of Notre Dame and Holy Family. I commend Msgr. for his encouragement of the celebration of the various ethnic groups that are present in his parish, for his reaching out to the younger families and members of the community, for his leadership in the planning and care of and repairs at St. Joseph Cemetery, the only Catholic cemetery in the region. I commend Msgr. and those who work with him on the Finance Council, for their careful oversight of stewardship of the parish resources, and the maintenance staff for how well they keep up the property with a limited budget. They maintain a list of items and keep close eye on them repairing in a systematic order.